Iowa's Hyde ready to face Wolverines

Iowa cornerback Micah Hyde (18) breaks up a pass intended for Northwestern wide receiver Charles Brown (6) during the second half of an NCAA college football game. ASSOCIATED PRESS Enlarge

It's said that cornerbacks are similar to quarterbacks in that they need a short memory to be effective. Dwelling on a gaffe will only lead to more mistakes.

Well, Iowa screwed up big time last week when it inexplicably lost to a hapless Minnesota team and dropped from the herd atop the Big Ten's Leaders division. Instead of harping on the debacle, junior cornerback Micah Hyde is embracing the chance to play "a good team" Saturday in No. 13 Michigan and getting the Hawkeyes (5-3, 2-2) realigned for a late-season push.

Hyde, the 2008 Ohio Division IV Offensive Player of the Year at Fostoria, is one of three northwest Ohio natives on Iowa's roster along with sophomore fullback Brad Rogers (Central Catholic) and freshman offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (Anthony Wayne). In his second season starting, Hyde leads the team with three interceptions, is fifth in tackles, and serves as punt returner.

"The biggest thing is we've got a good team coming in this Saturday, and we have an opportunity to come out and show people that we're a good football team," Hyde said.

They are a good football team -- at least when they play at home. In five games at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa hasn't lost. On the road they've yet to win, losing three times and none more unforgiveable than a 22-21 setback to a Minnesota team that dropped its first three conference games by an average of 37 points. The Gophers (2-6) scored the last 12 points to snatch the Floyd of Rosedale rivalry trophy.

Hyde traced the home-away disparity to an emphasis to "win at Kinnick." Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said it's not cut and dry why his team plays well at home and struggles on the road, although "I wish it was because I wouldn't be worried about this week." Despite the loss, Iowa can still win the division as it has yet to play the three Co-leaders -- Michigan, Michigan State, and Nebraska. Only against Nebraska will Iowa play away from Kinnick.

"We have to keep competing, that's the No. 1 thing," Hyde said. "Our coaches are putting us in good position to make plays. I think as players we have to pick up the pace and realize our coaches are doing the best they can and we should compete better and compete harder."

Of his teammates, Hyde is perhaps tightest with Rogers, his roommate of the past two years. Rogers recently was cleared to play by team doctors because of a heart condition detected 10 months ago during bowl game preparation. He has played in the last four games, starting the last two. Ferentz called Rogers "a tremendous young guy."

"When he was going through that stuff, it was hard on him," Hyde said. "He'd come back and he'd talk to me."